The Portland daily press., 1887-09-14
THE OTHER SIDE.
New Hampshire Legislators Speak
for the Boston and Maine.


CONCORD, N. H., Sept 13.-In the House
this forenoon the petition of John W. Morse
ana l91 other citizens of Bradford, in favor
of the passage of the Hazen bill was re-
ceived and tabled.
The debate on the railroad question was
resumed at 11.15. Mr.. Sawyer of Manches-
ter spoke in favor of the Hazen bill. He said
that in what he might say he would repre-
sent the sentiment of the people of his city,
something the gentleman who had preceded
him, Mr.. Sulloway of Manchester, had not
done. AS member of the legislature in
1888 he had voted for the Colby bill with
some misgivings, but since that time he had
not been chided for his action. Manchester
had great interests at stake in this contro-
versy, and her business men had considered
it well and knew what they wanted. He had
consulted many business men in his city.
Five-sevenths were in favor of theHazen bill,
while the remainder were divided for the
Atherton bill and no legislation. He took
no stock in the howl that had been raised
against foreign corporations. Foreign cor
p0rations had made Manchester what 1t was,
and If the railroads had kept faith the city
would have been one-thiId larger than it
now is. He knew Of an enterprise that had
been driven out of the city by this same mar
row policy. He wanted change, and so
did the people of Manchester. He did not
believe In saving off the railroads at the
State line, or damming up waters, or in
crippling resources in any way. In closing,
he strongly urged the passage of the Hazen
bill.
Mr.. Branet of Weare followed on the same
side. He said the railroads are creations of
law and controlled by it. They are of neces-
sity monopolized by contract with the State
to become public servants. The golden idea
monopolized will never be realized. Con-
struetion, competition and land consolida-
tion are three periods in the railroads of this
country Construction and competition was
passed and consolidation under State control
Is now upon us. Competition was tried and
found disastrous. Consolidation under State
control is the only policy in railroading that
has given the public the best attainable SER
vice. The advantages of consolidation are
enormous savings in operating expenses and
greater despatch in transacting busi-
bility upon few and creates greater
care in the management of lines. This
saving in operating expenses results in a re-
duction in fares and freights and secures to
the public better service and accommoda-
tions. Despite the statement of the gentle
man from Manchester (Mr. Sulloway) that
the Northern and Montreal came here with
out an invitation that road could not make
any equitable terms with the Concord, and
they went to Lowell. What reason had they
for not making contract with the Concord
a. shC3 SVuiu w oV Oh OluitupiC nav
was one invitation to Lowell to come here.
and the 18th section of the Colby bill, passed
in 1888, was another. The lease of the
Northern to the Lowell since the decision of
the Supreme court in the Dow case was said
to be an act Of duplicity, and was done by a
subterfuge. The Concord has been the
party guilty of duplicity. They thought
they had the Northern where they could
dictate terms and they propose to
do so. The Concord would not take
lease under any circumstances un-
less the Northern read would agree to sell its
1000 shares Of Concord railroad stock to the
friends of the Concord. The directors of
the Northern, finding they could do nothing,
looked elsewhere. Three days after, the
Concord directors learned that the Lowell
was liable to lease the Northern, all previous
objections waived, and they offered per
cent for 80 years. Then it was too late. 1t
is claimed that the Boston & Lowell did not
come in good faith. Such an assertion was
groundless. The Lowell did come in good
faith, and as an error had been found by the
Supreme Court in the Colby bill, the only OBJ
ject of the Hazen bill was to perfect it. 1t
was dishonOrable in the Concord to oppose
this request of the Lowell to perfect the bill
under which they come into the State. The
speaker did not believe the State would COM
NIT dishonorable act by refusing their re-
quests.
At this point the speaker suspended his ar
gument, and the House adjourned until 2
O'Clock p. m.
That Investigation.